Audible-signal system.



No. 642,590. Patented Feb. 6, I900.

R. M. mxou.

AUDIBLE SIGNAL SYSTEM. v

(Application filed Dec. 15, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheat I,

.(No Model.)

B. m. DIXON. AUDIBLE SIGNAL SYSTEM.

(Application filed Dec. 15, 1898.)

No. 642,590. Patented Feb. 6, 1900 I I llllllll' llllllll' llllllll' III] Illllllllllllllll V in: scams VEYERS :0. Wmurno wnswuomu. D, c.

RNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

AUDlBLE-SIGNAL SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 642,590, dated February 6, 190G.

Application filed December 15, 1898. Serial No. 699,3 '74. (No model.)

The object of my invention is to produce a system for marking the channels of navigable waters by the aid of audible signals, of which a series is employed, located in proximity to the channel to be indicated, and which are provided with means for emitting from the individual members of the series,

- respectively, distinctive sounds.

The means which I prefer to employ for sounding the several audible signals consist of a source of pneumatic energy located upon shore and operatively communicating with the respective signals, and means for operating the several signals fromthe source of pneumatic energy being provided upon the shore, so that the signals may be sounded as desired, preferably in successive order.

To the apparatus of the several signal-stations may be assigned different intervals of silence and sounding, by which each station may be recognized from its sound,and whereby each station aifords means of indicating definitely to a mariner acquainted with the sound the locality of the signal from which the sound proceeds.

Other means than those referred to may be employed for sounding the various signals, but those are preferred as being comparatively simple and inexpensive in construction and certain in operation.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure I is a diagrammatical plan view of one form of embodiment of my invention. Fig. II is a side elevation of one form of pneumatically-actuated audible signal,the means of producing sound in this form being a bell. Fig. III is a View similar to Fig. II, showing another form of audible signal in which the sound is produced by a whistle.

Referring to the figures on the drawings, 1 indicates a body of navigable water, and 2 the shore thereof. Approximate to the channel, within the water 1 and located so as to mark the same, I provide a series of audible signals constituting channel marks. Any number of signals may be employed and separated one from the other at such intervals as may be found or deemed sufficient to properly mark the channel. In Fig. I, Iillustrate, by way of example, six signal stations, (indicated at A, B, O, D, E, and F, respectively.) Each station is provided with a means of producing an audible signal, and in the form illustrated an audible signal which may be actuated by pneumatic pressure. By pneu matic pressure I include all means by which air-pressure may be utilized, whether by compression or by the production of a vacuum.

3 indicates by way of illustration an aircompressor, which may be of any suitable or preferred type, and which supplies air to a storage-reservoir 4. The reservoir 4: communicates with the respective signal stations A to F, inclusive, as through pipes 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, respectively, each pipe being provided with an operating-valve 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16, by aid whereof pneumatic energy may be communicated to any one of the stations at will for the purpose of sounding its signal.

It is possible to dispose with a separate service-pipe to each station and to connect the several stations in series,the connecting-pipes being indicated by the dotted lines 17 in Fig.

I of the drawings. In this arrangement only one pipe from the reservoir 4 to the first signal to which the others are connected in series will be necessary. I prefer, however, to employ separate service-pipes in order that each signal may be independently sounded. It is practicable by this means to cause each signal of the series to sound in successive order at regular intervals. Consequently each signal having a distinctive sound can be located not only by that sound, but if there be any doubt as to its identity the sounding of the next signal in series will afford additional means of locating and identifying the previous signal, as well as itself.

Having expressly stated that I do not desire to limit myself to any particular means of operating the channel-marking signals of my system, it may be inferred that I do not limit myself to any special form of pneumatically-actuated signals in that preferred form of embodiment of my invention in which pneumatic energy is utilized for signal-operating purposes.

In Fig. II of the drawings I illustrate the outlines of a form of bell-ringing mechanism which may be employed to advantage. It consists of a tower 20, supported as upon a screw-pile 21 and carrying a bell 22. A pipe 23 communicates with a source of pneumatic energy-as, for instance, the reservoir 4 through a service-pipe. Air supplied through the pipe 23 serves, through the employment of suitable mechanism not necessary to illustrate, to actuate strikers or hammers 24 in such manner that in striking against the bell 22 they produce after definite intervals of silence the sounding of the bell.

In Fig. III a whistle 25 is substituted for the hell 2%, the whistle being sounded at intervals by suitable valve-controlled mechanism 26, operated by air-pressure delivered through a pipe 27.

My apparatus is designed to be employed especially under conditions in which visible signals are not availableas, for example, in foggy weather. At such time an operator stationed upon the shore controls by the aid of the operating-valves the sounding of the signal-stations (lettered Ato F,in elusive) in such a manner, as already described, as to guide a navigator through the channel which the signals indicate.

' My particular object in suggesting the employment of both whistling and bell-ringing signals is to indicate means of producing a Wide variety of distinctive soundings in the several stations.

What I claim is 1. An audible-signal system, consisting of a group of signal-stations, the several stations being located so as to constitute channelmarkings, each station being provided with distinctive or distinguishable sound-emittin g mechanism by which its individual location may be determined, and the entire group bein g audibly distinguishable by the succession of sounds emitted from the several stations in their order, substantially as set forth.

2. An audible-signal system, consisting of a group of distinctive or distinguishable sounds emitted, respectively, from a series of channel-indicating stations, said sounds being produced by the aid of sound-producing mechanism upon the respective stations, and by means for actuating said mechanisms at a distance from the several stations, substantially as set forth.

In testimony of all which I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ROBERT MUNN DIXON. WVi tnesses:

BESSIE P. VAN PRAAG, H. G. DARWIN. 

